About
Scope, Cost, Schedule and Resources
Note: This quarter focuses on developing practical skills in planning and controlling project scope, cost, schedule, and resources, aligned with the Associate Project Manager Level 4 Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (KSBs).
Subjects
- Scope Management Fundamentals
- Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Scope Definition
- Cost Estimation and Budget Development
- Cost Control and Forecasting
- Schedule Planning and Critical Path Analysis
Key Topics
- Scope definition, scope statement, and WBS creation
- Change control for scope creep and scope baselines
- Estimating techniques: analogous, parametric, bottom-up, three-point
- Development of cost baselines and cost control hierarchies
- Earned Value Management (EVM) integration with cost and schedule
- Scheduling methods: Gantt charts, CPM, critical chain, milestone tracking
Learning Outcomes
- Define and manage project scope using WBS and effective change control.
- Apply a range of cost estimating techniques and establish cost baselines.
- Control and monitor cost performance using forecasting and EVM methods.
- Plan, develop, and manage project schedules, including critical path analysis.
- Establish and maintain baselines across scope, cost, schedule, and resources.
- Plan, allocate, and optimize resources to meet project objectives.
- Monitor and report on project performance trends and variances.
- Communicate planning and control information effectively to stakeholders.
- Demonstrate competencies aligned with KSBs (scope K12, cost K18–K20, schedule K21, resources K22)
KSBs
Knowledge
- Methods to define, record, integrate, deliver, and manage scope
- Estimating methods and when to apply them
- Configuration management and change control
- Principles of earned value management (EVM) and interpreting EVM info
- Project scheduling and maintenance (including critical path analysis)
- Allocation and management of resources across the project lifecycle
- Use of information management for scope, cost, and schedule control
- Technology and software for planning and performance tracking
Skills
- Use project monitoring and reporting techniques to track and interpret performance
- Monitor and analyse project budgets
- Apply change control processes to manage project scope
- Prepare, monitor, and schedule activities that contribute to delivery
- Support preparation or maintenance of a resource management plan
- Work within the approved project budget
- Ensure integrated schedules support critical path, interfaces, resource forecasting, and risk
- Use configuration management and change control to maintain projects
- Manage resources through the project lifecycle
Behaviours
- Has accountability and ownership of deliverables
- Works collaboratively with planners, cost engineers, and resource managers
